New Shop for the Friends
Jenny Gillingham and Barbara Coupe, long-standing volunteers with the Friends and joint managers of the shop are delighted with its new look and improved set up. “We have more shop space and a better layout for the fittings. Everything looks brighter and better after being painted and decorated, “ said Jenny.
“We have had some very good feedback and one of the doctors at the hospital suggested that the shop should be called The Tardis, because now there is more room inside than you expect. We are very proud of the shop and know that our customers will feel even more welcome with the improved surroundings.”
Barbara said: “It is brilliant to have more space to display a wider range of stock. We have a new fridge, a better coffee machine and we can now accommodate wheelchairs and pushchairs much more easily. The whole thing feels so much better, it was quite cramped before. The refurbishment, which was paid for by the Friends, was much needed as the last one was about eight years ago.”
The shop, at the South entrance to the hospital, sells a wide range of goods including sandwiches, soft drinks, fresh fruit, yoghurts, newspapers and magazines, greetings cards, confectionary and some toiletries. It is one of the two shops run on the Broomfield Hospital site by the Friends group.
It is open all day from Monday to Friday, with shorter opening hours at weekends and on bank holidays. The shop is also a focal point for volunteers from the Friends who take stocked-up trolleys around the wards seven days a week, so patients can buy items they need.
The shop was only closed for a few days during refurbishment and was officially re-opened by Professor Sheila Salmon, chairman of Mid Essex Hospitals Trust, who praised the volunteers for their work in running the shop and raising funds for the hospital.
Alison Douglas, chairman of Friends at Broomfield Hospital said : “We are delighted that our much valued shop at the South entrance has been given a great makeover and is now more spacious, with a fresh modern look. The shop’s surroundings now match the excellent service given to customers by our wonderful volunteers.”
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